U.S. patent application number 11/739850 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-30 for diagonally extending slideout drawer assembly and structure therewith.
Invention is credited to Michael Kohlmann, Nicholas W. Paterson, Matthew M. Smeltzer, Michael Terrill.
Application Number | 20080263761 11/739850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39735086 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080263761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kohlmann; Michael ; et
al. |
October 30, 2008 |
DIAGONALLY EXTENDING SLIDEOUT DRAWER ASSEMBLY AND STRUCTURE
THEREWITH
Abstract
A bathroom fixture has slide-mounted pullout drawers that extend
diagonally forward from its sides. The fixture can be a lavatory
with a vanity base in which one or more drawers are slidably
mounted. The slide mechanism for each drawer includes a fixed race
and telescoping rail supporting the drawer from underneath and
another fixed race and telescoping rail mounted between a side wall
of the drawer and a vertical support member. Both telescoping
slides are mounted diagonally with respect to the front and the
associated side of the vanity.
Inventors: |
Kohlmann; Michael;
(Sheboygan, WI) ; Paterson; Nicholas W.;
(Sheboygan, WI) ; Terrill; Michael; (Cedarburg,
WI) ; Smeltzer; Matthew M.; (Blue Grass, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 2040
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-4497
US
|
Family ID: |
39735086 |
Appl. No.: |
11/739850 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/630 ;
312/334.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 67/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/630 ;
312/334.1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 1/04 20060101
A47K001/04; A47B 88/00 20060101 A47B088/00 |
Claims
1. A slideout drawer assembly, comprising: a drawer having a bottom
and upright sides connected to the bottom, wherein at least one
side is at an oblique angle relative to another of the sides; a
first slide mounted to the oblique side; and a second slide mounted
to the drawer other than at the oblique side essentially parallel
to the first slide; wherein the slides cooperate to allow the
drawer to move diagonally relative to a supporting structure to
which the slides can be mounted.
2. A vanity, comprising: a frame including a platform, an upright
support within the frame and extending from the platform, the
upright support positioned diagonally within the frame; a lateral
drawer slide mounted on the lateral platform and diagonally to the
frame; an upright drawer slide mounted on the first upright support
and diagonally to the frame; and a drawer connected to both the
lateral drawer slide and the upright drawer slide, the drawer being
extendable diagonally from the frame.
3. A vanity, comprising: a frame including a front side, and
opposing first side and second side connected to the front side; a
platform within the frame and extending from at least one of the
front side, the first side and the second side; an upright support
within the frame and extending from the platform, the support
positioned diagonally to the front side; a drawer slide mounted on
the platform and diagonally to the front side; another drawer slide
mounted on the support and diagonally to the front side; and a
drawer connected to both drawer slides, the drawer being extendable
diagonally from the first side.
4. The vanity of claim 3, wherein the drawer is extendable
diagonally forward from the first side.
5. The vanity of claim 3, wherein the drawer has a trapezoidal
shape.
6. The vanity of claim 5, wherein the drawer includes a bottom
connected to a diagonal wall, wherein one of the drawer slides is
mounted to the bottom and the other is mounted to the diagonal
wall.
7. The vanity of claim 3, further including a second upright
support within the frame and extending from the platform, the
second upright support positioned diagonally to the front side; a
second set of drawer slides one of which is mounted on the platform
and diagonally to the front side and the other being mounted on the
second upright support and diagonally to the front side; and a
second drawer connected to both of the second set of drawer slides
for extending diagonally forward from the second side.
8. The vanity of claim 7, wherein the second drawer has trapezoidal
shape.
9. The vanity of claim 3, wherein the platform includes a top side,
an opposed bottom side and a Y-shaped aperture extending through
the top side and bottom side.
10. The vanity of claim 3, wherein the first side and the second
side are oriented approximately orthogonal to the front side.
11. The vanity of claim 3, further including a sink connected to
the frame.
12. A plumbing fixture, comprising: a basin; a frame connected to
the basin, the frame including a front side, and opposing first
side and second side connected to the front side; a platform within
the frame and extending from at least one of the front side, the
first side and the second side; an upright support within the frame
and extending from the platform, the support positioned diagonally
to the front side; a drawer slide mounted on the platform and
diagonally to the front side; another drawer slide mounted on the
support and diagonally to the front side; and a drawer connected to
both drawer slides, the drawer being extendable diagonally from the
first side.
13. The plumbing fixture of claim 12, wherein the drawer is
extendable diagonally forward from the first side.
14. The plumbing fixture of claim 12, wherein the drawer has a
trapezoidal shape.
15. The plumbing fixture of claim 14, wherein the drawer includes a
bottom connected to a diagonal wall, wherein one of the drawer
slides is mounted to the bottom and the other is mounted to the
diagonal wall.
16. The plumbing fixture of claim 12, further including a second
upright support within the frame and extending from the platform,
the second upright support positioned diagonally to the front side;
a second set of drawer slides one of which is mounted on the
platform and diagonally to the front side and the other being
mounted on the second upright support and diagonally to the front
side; and a second drawer connected to both of the second set of
drawer slides for extending diagonally forward from the second
side.
17. The plumbing fixture of claim 16, wherein the second drawer has
trapezoidal shape.
18. The plumbing fixture of claim 12, wherein the platform includes
a top side, an opposed bottom side and a Y-shaped aperture
extending through the top side and bottom side.
19. The plumbing fixture of claim 12, wherein the first side and
the second side are oriented approximately orthogonal to the front
side.
20. The plumbing fixture of claim 12, wherein the basin is one of a
sink, a tub and a shower basin, the plumbing fixture is one of a
sink assembly, a bathtub assembly, and a shower assembly.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to storage drawers, and more
particularly, it relates to structures, such as vanities and other
bathroom cabinets, which have side drawers that extend
diagonally.
[0004] Conventional vanities for use in bathrooms, or other areas,
typically may have a mirror on the wall or otherwise to the rear of
the vanity, and may also include a sink when used in a bathroom. In
many instances the vanity has a storage area below a top surface,
and depending on the size of the vanity, may have drawers that
slide directly forward, and/or doors which pivot outward from the
front of the vanity.
[0005] It is not uncommon that the doors provide access to a
storage area which may store cleaning supplies and other expendable
items, which a user may need to access while using the vanity,
sink, and/or mirror. It is not always convenient to have drawers in
a vanity open forward, as this requires a person to move either
backward or to the side, at which point they may be out of reach of
the sink or out of view of the mirror.
[0006] Further, there may not be enough space in the room in which
the vanity is installed for drawers and/or doors to open forward.
Additionally, there may be market reasons such as product
differentiation, or other aesthetic or design reasons, to have
drawers and/or doors which open other than forward. Although it is
relatively easy to conceive that a conventional drawer may be
mounted in the vanity so as to open from the side, by rotating the
drawer slides in the vanity orthogonal to their normal position,
such drawers have the disadvantage of not opening toward a typical
position of the user for easy access.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 1,071,599 shows a vanity structure in which a
drawer opens by pivoting from the side. However, a disadvantage of
this design is that the drawers are not well supported in the open
position. U.S. Pat. No. 1,187,356 shows guides L and L' both at the
sides and bottom of a cabinet structure, which will interact with
corresponding elements of a drawer to allow the drawer to move
orthogonally from the frame. U.S. Pat. No. 1,458,449 shows openable
side drawers on opposed sides of a cabinet, which again pivot, and
which are accordion style drawers which are not suitable to vanity
designs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,659 shows multiple other pivoting
structures associated with a cabinet, including a conventional
drawer which can be accessed once a section is pivoted outward.
[0008] In any event, it is desired to develop further improved
slideout drawers and structures, such as vanities, which have
drawers that open from the side, and which still open forward with
good support for the drawer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In one embodiment the present invention provides a vanity
which includes a frame having a platform, and an upright support
within the frame and extending from the platform. The upright
support is positioned diagonally within the frame. A lateral drawer
slide is mounted on the lateral platform and diagonally to the
frame. An upright drawer slide is mounted on the first upright
support and diagonally to the frame, and a drawer is connected to
both the lateral drawer slide and the upright drawer slide, where
the drawer is extendable diagonally from the frame.
[0010] In another aspect the present invention provides a vanity
which includes a frame having a front side, and opposing first side
and second side connected to the front side. A platform is within
the frame and extends from at least one of the front side, the
first side and the second side. An upright support is within the
frame and extends from the platform, where the support is
positioned diagonally to the front side. A drawer slide is mounted
on the platform and diagonally to the front side. Another drawer
slide is mounted on the support and diagonally to the front side,
and a drawer is connected to both drawer slides where the drawer is
extendable diagonally from the first side.
[0011] In preferred forms, the first drawer is extendable
diagonally forward from the first side. The first drawer can have a
trapezoidal shape. The drawer includes a bottom connected to a
diagonal wall, wherein one of the drawer slides is mounted to the
bottom and the other is mounted to the diagonal wall.
[0012] In other preferred forms, a second upright support can be
within the frame and extends from the platform, where the second
upright support is positioned diagonally to the front side. A
second set of drawer slides is included where one of which is
mounted on the platform and diagonally to the front side and the
other is mounted on the second upright support and diagonally to
the front side. A second drawer is connected to both of the second
set of drawer slides which extends diagonally forward from the
second side. The second drawer can have a trapezoidal shape.
[0013] In other refinements the horizontal platform includes a top
side, an opposed bottom side and a Y-shaped aperture extending
through the top side and bottom side. This Y-shaped aperture is
particularly advantageous when the vanity is part of a lavatory
including a sink, as hot and cold water inlets for a faucet, and
the sink drain can be routed through the vanity through the
aperture, if desired.
[0014] The first side and the second side can be advantageously
oriented approximately orthogonal to the front side. A sink can be
connected to the frame.
[0015] In another embodiment the present invention includes a
plumbing fixture which has a basin, and a frame connected to the
basin. The frame has a front side, and opposing first side and
second side connected to the front side. A platform is within the
frame and extends from at least one of the front side, the first
side and the second side. An upright support is within the frame
and extends from the platform, where the support is positioned
diagonally to the front side. A drawer slide is mounted on the
platform and diagonally to the front side. Another drawer slide is
mounted on the support and diagonally to the front side, and a
drawer is connected to both drawer slides where the drawer is
extendable diagonally from the first side.
[0016] Other aspects can be as previously described for the vanity.
The basin can be a sink, a tub or a shower basin, and the plumbing
fixture therefore can be a corresponding sink assembly, a bathtub
assembly, or a shower assembly.
[0017] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a
slideout drawer assembly which includes a drawer which has a bottom
and upright sides connected to the bottom, wherein at least one
side is at an oblique angle relative to another of the sides. A
first slide mount is mounted to the oblique side, and a second
slide is mounted to the drawer other than at the oblique side
essentially parallel to the first slide. For example, the second
side can be mounted to the drawer bottom at an angle corresponding
to the oblique side. The slides cooperate to allow the drawer to
move diagonally relative to a supporting structure to which the
slides can be mounted.
[0018] An advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is
that drawers which can open from the side while at the same time
extend forwardly.
[0019] The present invention can advantageously provide a strong
support for the diagonally opening drawers, while at the same time,
reducing the chance of the drawers binding.
[0020] These and still other advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent, and the invention will be better
understood by reference to the following description of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a plumbing
fixture including a vanity according to the present invention, and
where the fixture is shown in the form of a sink assembly;
[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vanity and
sink basin of FIG. 1, and illustrating a drawer extending
diagonally from the side of the vanity;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the vanity of
FIG. 1, with both drawers in an open position;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3; and
[0025] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken
along section line 5-5 in FIG. 3.
[0026] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out
herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one
form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting
the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] The present invention provides for mounting a slide-out
drawer so that it can be pulled out diagonally with respect to its
supporting structure. Two or more slides are mounted to walls of
the supporting structure that are at angle to one another. One
slide is mounted to a laterally extending surface and the other is
mounted to an upright oblique surface. In the preferred embodiment
described below, the lateral surface is described as "horizontal"
and the upright surface is described as "vertical." It should be
noted, however, that such terms should not be construed as limiting
the invention, since it is within the scope of the invention for
the slides to be mounted to any two (or more) suitable non-coplanar
surfaces.
[0028] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a plumbing fixture in the form of a sink
assembly 10, which generally includes vanity 12 connected to a sink
basin 14, and a faucet 16.
[0029] Faucet 16 includes a front 18, which can be part of cabinet
20 (e.g. a mirrored front surface of cabinet 20) or can otherwise
be part of a faucet housing. An outlet spout (not shown, underneath
cabinet 20) is connected to the faucet 16, and a mixing valve
cartridge (not shown) is in fluid communication with the spout.
Faucet 16 is described more fully in U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/633,856, filed Dec. 5, 2006, and entitled "PLUMBING VALVE
WITH STICK CONTROL HANDLE", incorporated by reference as if fully
set forth herein. However, the embodiment of faucet 16 which is
shown is only one of many potential faucet arrangements, and the
present invention can have many other faucets, including
conventional faucets connected to a sink top, and other faucets as
are known.
[0030] A frame 22 is connected to basin 14, and frame 22 includes a
front side 24, and opposing first side 26 and/or second side 28
connected to front side 24. A horizontal platform 30 is within
frame 22, and extends from front side 24, first side 26 and/or
second side 28. A first vertical support 32 is also within frame 22
and extends from horizontal platform 30. First vertical support 32
is positioned diagonally to front side 24. Terms such as front,
bottom, etc. are as referenced to the typical orientations of an
installed plumbing fixture 10, although the present invention can
be oriented in a variety of ways and can have drawers which extend
diagonally from any of the four (or more) sides.
[0031] A first horizontal drawer slide 34 is mounted on horizontal
platform 30 and diagonally to front side 24. A first vertical
drawer slide 36 is mounted on first vertical support 32 and
diagonally to front side 24. Drawer slides 34, 36 can include a
race and a slidable arm as shown, and can include other elements
such as bearings and/or rollers, mounting hardware, and other
elements as are known. Further, other types of drawers slides can
be used.
[0032] A first drawer 38 is connected to both first horizontal
drawer slide 34 and first vertical drawer slide 36. As shown, first
drawer 38 is extendable diagonally forward from first side 26.
First drawer 38 can have a trapezoidal shape as shown. In the
embodiment shown, first horizontal drawer slide 34 is mounted to a
bottom 40 of first drawer 38, and first vertical drawer slide 36 is
mounted to a diagonal wall 42 of first drawer 38.
[0033] The present invention can include a second vertical support
44 within cabinet frame 22 and which extends from horizontal
platform 30, which support 44 is positioned diagonally to front
side 24. A second horizontal drawer slide 46 is mounted on
horizontal platform 30 and diagonally to front side 24.
[0034] A second vertical drawer slide 50 can be mounted on second
vertical support 44 and diagonally to front side 24. A second
drawer 50 is connected to both second horizontal drawer slide 46
and second vertical drawer slide 48. In the embodiment shown,
second drawer 50 is extendable diagonally forward from second side
28.
[0035] As with the first drawer, second drawer 50 has a trapezoidal
shape in plan view. Horizontal platform 30 includes a top side 52,
an opposed bottom side 54 and a Y-shaped aperture 56 extending
through top side 52 and bottom side 54. First side 26 and second
side 28 can be oriented approximately orthogonal to the front
side.
[0036] The present invention can include other elements such as
lights 58 such as LED accent, or other, lighting, a power supply 60
for the lights, and a power receptacle 62.
[0037] FIG. 5 particularly illustrates the horizontal mounting of
the horizontal drawer slides and the vertical mounting of the
vertical drawer slides.
[0038] Although the embodiment shown includes a sink 14 which rests
on a top surface 64 of vanity 12, with a drain 65 through top
surface 64 and a rear panel 66, the present invention can easily be
adapted to a more conventional sink which extends below the top
surface, by positioning the drawers lower thereby allowing
clearance for the bottom of the sink. Water inlets and drain can be
routed through either the Y-shaped aperture 65 and/or rear panel
66.
[0039] Although the basin is shown as sink 14, alternatively, the
basin can be a tub or a shower basin, and consequently plumbing
fixture 10 can be a sink assembly, a bathtub assembly, or a shower
assembly.
[0040] Other modifications and variations to the preferred
embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which are
intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. For
example, the present invention can include a plurality of stacked
drawers, or other multiple drawer configurations, on one or more
sides including front and rear sides. Configurations which include
drawers on the front or rear sides may be an instance when the
plumbing fixture or vanity according to the present invention is in
the form of a freestanding island, for example.
[0041] Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to
just the described most preferred embodiment. Hence, to ascertain
the full scope of the invention, the claims which follow should be
referenced.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0042] The invention provides a drawer assembly for a vanity and/or
a plumbing fixture, which can open diagonally from the side of the
vanity or fixture, which allows the drawer to be on one of the
sides, while at the same time extend forwardly.
* * * * *